Biden: 'Don't screw around with me'

Vice President Joe Biden told a reporter on Wednesday “don’t screw around with me” after he was asked about his comments saying if Republicans fail to pass the jobs plan, the country would see an increase in rapes.

Human Events reporter Jason Mattera, a conservative who claims to specialize in “ambush interviews,” asked Biden if he regretted “using the rape reference to describe Senate opposition” to the legislation, according to CNN.

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On Wednesday, Biden gave a speech saying budget cuts had drastically impacted police forces in many cities and “the result has been, and it’s not unique, murder rates are up, robberies are up, rapes are up.”

“I didn’t use … no, no, no,” Biden said to Mattera. “Let’s get it straight, guy. Don’t screw around with me. Let’s get it straight.”

Mattera followed up, asking the vice president, “You didn’t use a rape reference?”

“I said rape was up three times in Flint,” Biden replied. “Those are the numbers. Go look at the numbers. Murder is up; rape is up; burglary is up. That’s what I said.”

Mattera then asked if Republicans failed to pass the bill, Biden thought that would directly lead to more rapes.

“Murder will continue to rise; rape will continue to rise; all crime will continue to rise,” Biden said, according to CNN.

When Mattera asked for a comment on whether using such language was appropriate for Biden as the vice president, an aide pushed Biden through the crowd.

White House press secretary Jay Carney addressed Biden’s statements Thursday afternoon, telling reporters at his briefing, “You can focus on the words or you can focus on the simple fact.” Carney added that there are measures in Obama’s jobs plan that would likely put teachers and first responders back to work, and if Republicans say otherwise it would be “an interesting argument to hear,” he said.